Director Andy Muschietti’s candid remarks regarding the disappointing performance of The Flash raise questions about his forthcoming DC Universe (DCU) project, The Brave and the Bold. As the DCU embarks on its fresh phase with an array of exciting movie and television ventures, Muschietti’s take on Batman—the first in James Gunn’s DCU—is generating significant anticipation. Despite this interest, intricate details surrounding the plot and cast of The Brave and the Bold, apart from the principal characters Batman and Damian Wayne, remain scarce.
Andy Muschietti entered the film scene with his 2008 horror short film Mamá, which he developed into a feature film in 2013 with the esteemed Guillermo del Toro’s backing. Following that, he directed the critically acclaimed It films starring Bill Skarsgard, released in 2017 and 2019, before tackling his inaugural superhero project, The Flash, in 2023. However, the film has been engulfed in controversy, dealing with issues ranging from Ezra Miller’s legal troubles and multiple delays, to contentious cameo choices, subpar CGI, and mixed reviews regarding the portrayal of key DCEU characters like Henry Cavill’s Superman, Ben Affleck’s Batman, and Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman.
Andy Muschietti Attributes The Flash’s Failure to Lack of Interest, Particularly Among Women
Muschietti’s Analysis of The Flash’s Shortcomings Fails to Address Core Issues
On January 12, 2025, Muschietti reflected on the struggles faced by The Flash, asserting that the character lacks widespread popularity, claiming, “I’ve found in private conversations that a lot of people just don’t care about The Flash as a character.” While he briefly acknowledged other issues contributing to the film’s downfall, he emphasized that the movie did not cater to “all four quadrants,”explaining, “When you spend $200 million on a film, Warner wants every demographic to show up, even your grandmother.”
The “four quadrants”Muschietti refers to categorize audiences into four segments: male viewers under 25, male viewers over 25, female viewers under 25, and female viewers over 25. Typically, successful Hollywood blockbusters appeal to all these segments and usually adopt a family-friendly action format. Recently, live-action adaptations of comic books have increasingly explored less popular source material, yet the superhero genre’s broad appeal has enabled even niche Marvel and DC stories to resonate with diverse audiences, leading to critical and commercial successes.
Challenging Muschietti’s Perspective on The Flash’s Popularity
The Flash Remains a Prominent Figure in Comic Book Lore
While The Flash may lack the extensive film history of icons like Superman or Batman, he undeniably remains one of the most recognizable superheroes in contemporary pop culture. Beyond his comic book stature, Barry Allen was the central figure in nine seasons of The CW’s The Flash, which gradually shifted the focus from Arrow to Grant Gustin’s portrayal of The Flash amidst the Arrowverse’s vast narrative. Notably, according to a USA Today report from 2015, 40% of the audience for The Flash was female—a remarkable figure for a male-centric superhero series woven into a complex cinematic tapestry.
The Flash has been instrumental in transforming and preserving the entire DC Comics timeline multiple times. However, unlike the source material, the 2023 DCEU film provides little clarity on the transition from the DCEU to the new DCU.
Why Muschietti’s Remarks Raise Concerns About the DCU’s Take on Batman
Given the various controversies that plagued The Flash, Muschietti’s interpretation of the audience’s disinterest appears misguided. As he steps into the role of director for The Brave and the Bold, a pivotal entry in the DCU, the stakes are high for Batman’s portrayal. If Muschietti perceives a character as popular as The Flash as unappealing to general audiences, he may struggle to grasp the allure of Batman and his extensive array of allies and adversaries. Both Batman and The Flash possess considerable popularity among diverse audience segments, including women aged under and over 25, indicating no extraordinary alterations are essential for their success.
The Flash’s curious preoccupation with Batman and other non-central characters, such as Supergirl and General Zod, likely stemmed from the DCEU’s attempt to provide closure for its archetypal figures. However, Muschietti’s comments suggest a lack of interest in delivering a compelling narrative focused on The Flash himself. Unlike earlier Batman films that stood alone, The Brave and the Bold will belong to an interwoven cinematic universe where Batman will inevitably encounter a variety of heroes, villains, and anti-heroes largely disconnected from Gotham. The character has already been confirmed to have been operational for some time, as per the previous announcements regarding the Creature Commandos series.
Batman’s introduction within the DCU is marked by an apocalyptic vision shared alongside Superman, Wonder Woman, Starfire, Peacemaker, and numerous other characters.
It is essential for the director of the DCU’s Batman narrative to exhibit genuine interest in a vast spectrum of characters, transcending just the iconic Dark Knight. After nearly 90 years entrenched in comic book history, James Gunn’s burgeoning DCU is finally allowing Batman to coexist on-screen with an extensive variety of characters from the outset. Characters traditionally overlooked, such as lesser-known villains, various members of the Bat-Family, and more eccentric figures like Bat-Mite and Bat-Cow could achieve remarkable success if the creative team nurtures them with the same devotion and passion they offer to Batman.
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